Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – With Giving Tuesday tomorrow, nonprofits across Jonesboro are asking the community for donations of time or money so they can continue to fund their work.
Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 and encourages community members nationwide to give their time, money, or resources to their local nonprofits. It is held annually on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
READ MORE: Giving Guide 2025: Holiday donation drives across Jonesboro
Jill Eaves, American Red Cross Arkansas regional communication manager, said while monetary donations would be appreciated, the organization is also looking for people to volunteer. There is no set goal for monetary donations.
“If you can’t provide finance, the best gift is your time,” Eaves said. “We would love to have volunteers because the American Red Cross is made up of 90% volunteers.”
She added that with colder weather moving in, the need for volunteers is only increasing. According to information from the American Red Cross, during the holidays, Red Cross home fire responses increase nearly 20% due to cooking and heating homes.
“Across our Missouri and Arkansas region, nearly 2,000 people rely on the Red Cross after home fires in a typical November and December,” Eaves said.
For those who cannot give financially or volunteer, Eaves said people could sign up to give blood or platelets. Click here to find blood/platelet drives near you.
The American Red Cross is a nationwide nonprofit that shelters, feeds, and provides comfort to disaster victims. The organization also supplies approximately 40% of the nation’s blood.
To donate to the American Red Cross of Arkansas, click here, or click here to sign up to volunteer.
Casey Kidd, executive director of the Family Crisis Center, said the organization would be accepting monetary donations. The nonprofit has already begun posting on social media pages, encouraging people to give.
While there is no set donation goal, Kidd said money received will be used to fund specialized staff trainings, as well as cover the costs of programs affected by grant funding cuts. These programs include housing and utility service assistance, transportation and relocation assistance, and covering prescription medicine for people the organization serves.
The Family Crisis Center assists victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking across seven Northeast Arkansas counties.
“It is something that’s needed so that we can continue to provide those other costs and services individuals need so that they can continue on the path of their own stability and a new chapter in their life,” Kidd explained.
To give to the Family Crisis Center, click here, or write a check and mail it to or drop it off at the Family Crisis Center, located at 519 W. Washington Ave.
For those unable to give monetarily, Kidd said donations of gently used clothes and items could be made to the Family Crisis Center’s Second Home Shoppe, a volunteer-operated resale store directly benefiting the nonprofit.
The Second Home Shoppe is located at 2312 E. Matthews Ave. Donation hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Adrianne Cruz, executive director of CityYouth Ministries, said money raised on Giving Tuesday will be used to pay utility bills and help fund the organization’s outreach missions.
The faith-based organization serves 123 elementary school students in various Jonesboro school districts, providing a free after-school program Monday through Thursday in which students receive a hot meal, as well as academic and spiritual support.
Cruz said the organization is not only looking for monetary donations, but also donations of nonperishable food, anti-bacterial wipes, copy, and construction paper, as well as paper plates and garbage bags.
Monetary donations can be made online here. Item donations can be dropped off at CityYouth Ministries, located at 118 Burke Ave.
